the Birds of the Lower Petchora, 
113 
CoRVUS CORNIX, L. 
The Hooded Crow is one of the commonest residents in 
every town and village in Russia through which we passed, 
becoming gradually scarcer north of Ust Zylma. We were 
told that at Gorodok* it is only a summer migrant, arriving 
about the 10th May. At Alexievka we only occasionally saw 
it. In the neighbourhood of Ust Zylma it breeds in the 
forests. The first eggs were brought to us on the 30th May. 
CoRVUS FRUGILEGUS, L. 
We had one specimen brought to us . at Ust Zylma on the 
17th May. This was the only example we saw during our trip. 
CoRVUS MONEDULA, L. 
We found this bird common, as far as Mezen, in the villages. 
The only examples which we saw further east were a solitary 
pair, one of which we shot, at Ust Zylma on the 3rd May. 
Piottuch told us that it is only during the last four or five 
years that the Jackdaw has appeared at Mezen, but that it is 
now a resident there. Many of the birds we saw were very 
white on the neck, being possibly the Corvus collaris of some 
authors. 
Pica rustica (Scop.). 
This is one of the commonest resident birds in North Russia, 
becoming still more frequent towards the east. At Ust Zylma 
they are very abundant; but we found them scarcer further 
north, as the villages become smaller and further apart. We 
did not see any Magpies north of Gorodok, where, however, 
we were told the bird is found all the year round. We found 
them building in the small pines near Ust Zylma, and begin¬ 
ning to lay early in May. 
Perisoreus infaustus (L.). 
The Siberian Jay is not rare throughout the pine-forests of 
North Russia through which we passed. They are, however, 
somewhat difficult to find in early spring. When engaged in 
* This is the Pustozero of Purchas (Purchas’s ‘ Pilgrimes/ vol. iii. 
chap, viii.); and it is known at. Mezen and Archangel by its true name; 
Pustozersk. On the Petchora the only name recognized is Gorodok, or 
“the town.” 
SER. III.-VOL. VI. 
